Aptive Environmental Acquired by Citation Capital

Dallas, TX and Provo, UT, August 27, 2024

Citation Capital, a private equity firm specializing in partnering with founder- and family-led businesses, announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Aptive Environmental, a Provo, Utah-based pest control company. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Aptive’s Co-Founder and CEO, along with the leadership team, will retain significant interest in the company. 

Founded in 2015, Aptive has rapidly become one of the leading residential pest control companies in North America. Servicing over half a million households, Aptive offers a comprehensive range of pest prevention services. With a dedicated team of approximately 4,000 employees, Aptive delivers pest control services with the help of innovative technology that optimizes the everyday experience for both its customers and service professionals. 

"We are thrilled to partner with Citation as we embark on this next chapter of growth for Aptive,” said Aptive Co-Founder and CEO Vess Pearson. “Citation’s investment in Aptive underscores the exceptional company we have built over the past decade. We look forward to driving further growth in partnership with Citation and continuing to carry out our mission of providing top-tier services and helping people to better enjoy their homes.”

“Aptive embodies key characteristics that align with our investment approach of backing exceptional, defensible founder-led businesses,” said Tiffany K. Hagge, Founder and Managing Partner of Citation. “Vess and his leadership team have achieved remarkable growth, scaling Aptive to be one of the largest residential pest control service providers in North America. We are excited to work in lockstep with them to continue to expand the business both organically and inorganically.”

Aptive CFO Mark Lawrence said, “Partnering with Citation will not only fast-track our strategic growth plans, but will also enhance our ability to deliver unparalleled service to customers, elevating Aptive’s brand to new heights and further advancing our M&A strategy.”

Chudi Obianwu, a Managing Director at Citation, added, “Aptive holds a unique, scaled position in the pest services industry. We have gotten to know Vess and the leadership team over the last several years and believe our cultural and strategic alignment positions us well to enhance Aptive’s offering and value.”

This transaction builds on Citation’s strong investment momentum, including its first investment in New Jersey-based “better for you” snack maker Cibo Vita in October 2023.

In July 2024, the firm announced a strategic partnership with Capital Constellation (New York), a collaboration of institutional investors backing the next generation alternative investment firms, advised by Wafra (New York).